robertson



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. ROBERTSON.

APPARATUS POR GOVBRING TELEGRAPH CABLES. No. 25,859. l Patented Apr. 17.1883.

(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. ROBERTSON.

APPARATUS POR GOVBRING TBLEGRAPH GABLES.

Patented Apr. 17,1883.

JOHN ROBERTSON, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO 'ROTHE & LIPS, OI" NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR COVERING TELEGRAPH-CABLES. A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,859, dated April 17, 1883.

Application filed April 8, 1882. (Model.)

bles. Fig. 2 is avertical 'longitudinal section of the leadehamber; and Fig. 3, a top view, partly in section, of the apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn on the same scale-that is, larger than the scale on which Fig. l is drawn.

The object of this invention is to produce a .convenient machine for covering telegraphcables with lead, and also for applying an in'- termediate coating of paraffne, or the like, between the lead and the cable.

The invention consists in a new construe tion of apparatus for ejectin g the lead from a. chamber and causing it to adhere to the cable, and also in the new combination of parts that have reference to the application of the parafiine, and to the cooling of the parain'e and to the cooling of the lead on the finished cable.

The cable A, which is to be covered, is tirst drawn from a suitable reel through a tank or trough, B, containing parafine or its equivalent, which trough is directly or by tubular extension joined'to the lead-chamber C. The

" cable A, passing through the paraine in this v trough, is covered with it to the proper extent,

the paraftine being kept in a liquid or nearly liquid condition by means of steam or hot water admitted into the hollow walls a of the trough B, the said trough being practically surrounded by a steam-jacket at the sides, outer end, and bottom. is a cylinder having its ends open, as shown in Fig. 2, and contains a plunger D, axially aligned with it at each end, the two plungers bengintended to eject the lead from the chamber, and being connected with suitable mechanism-snch as hydraulic power, or the likefor moving them toward the center of the chamber C. The chamber Gis surrounded at or near its ends, and, if desired, also in the middle by a shell, E, which forms a steamchamber, b, preferably of spiral form, as shown in Fig. 2--that is to say, the outer circumfer- 'lhe lead-chamber C ence ot' the chamber() is cut or shaped to produce spiral grooves, which are inclosed in the shell E, to which steam is admittedl by the pipe F, and from-which steam escapes by the pipe G. By this. `means the lead, in the chamber O is kept warm, and the heat of the steam .is fully utilized during its passage through the spiraly grooves. It enters hot at the pipe F, and leaves the steam-jacket, in a practically chilled condition by the pipe G. The chamber C is traversed at its center by the guide mechanism for the cable and discharged lead. This mechanism is more clearly shown in Fig. 3.v It consists of the core H and of the die I. The core His tubular and has a tapering inner end. At its outer end it has an outwardly-projecting flange, d, which bears on a shoulder, e, that is formed in the corresponding radial 'bore of the chamber O. A hollow uut, J, is screwed into said bore and bears against the outer end of the core H. The die I is also tubular, having a larger bore than the inner end ofthe core H, and is set into a recess or depression which is formed in the chamber() on the side opposite to that through which the core is inserted. This depression is markedf, and serves to support the die I in its" position.4 By unscrewing the nut Jthe core H can be readily taken out, and thereupon, also, the die I through the opening that was formerly partly filled by the core H, and another die and core may bc placed into the chamber C in `lieu of those removed, so that thus the apparatus is adapted to cover cables of different sizes or cover. the cables with different thicknesses of lead,`as may be desired,` different cores and dies being used for the different kinds of cable or covering to be passed through the machine. The inner side of the core H has a screw-thread cut into it, as shown at g, to facilitate its removal-that is to say, after the nut J is removed a threaded rodis screwed into this thread g, and by its movement the core l] is readily pulled out.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The cable A, having been covered with paraf-` IOO squeeze the lead out of the chamber C, theV 'only outlet for itfbeing through the die I,

.around the cable; and thus it is that a tubularlead covering is applied to the cable around the same, of such thickness as is allowed by the bore of the die I,rthe ejection of the lead vservin g also to feed the cable in the direction of the arrows and in harmony with the speed of the escapinglead. y In Figf-the letter/i represents the cable v before it is covered with paralnethe letter j the cable coveredwith paraiine, and the letter l the cable covered with lead.

It will be seen that byhaving the two plungers workingi'rom opposite` sides the lead is caused to escape from the chamber C in an equal stream, while where there is only one plunger the tendency is Athat it will escape more on one side of the cable tha-non the other, and produce an unequal covering. The

core H should be so perforated that at the r point Where the cable leaves it it will hug it, and thus prevent lthe lead from escaping backward through thecore, whereas the die I leaves a suiicient openingfor the `discharge ot the lead in the manner stated.

The cable thus covered'with lead is finally discharged from the v`chamber C, and then passed through a water-tank, L, where it is cooled, and finally woundv on a reel, M.

I do not claim, broadly, surrounding any lead-chamber with a steamjpacket.

I claimc 1. In apparatus for covering cables with lead, the removable core H, made with inner thread, g, as and for the purpose described. 2. The cylinder C, having radially-placed cavityfon one side of its axis, and aperture with sloulder e on opposite side of same, in combination with the die I and with the tubular core H, provided with flange d and with the nut substantially as and for the purpose specited.

'JOHNl ROBERTSON.

Witnesses: Y

SAML. R. BE'r'rs, JAMES TURK. 

